Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-04-08
THE WORK OF A BOSTON NAVAL AR.
CHITECT.
The New York Yacht for IA Londoner-A
Notable Record of Forty-fve Years
From the Boston Transcript

The designs for a schooner Yacht for Mr.
Potter, a wealthy resident of Lonuon
England, in the hands of Mr.. D. j. Lawlol
OF East Boston, are nearly completed
Mr. Lawlor's success in designing fast
vessels, notably the famous pilot boat
Hesper, now IN Boston waters, led to his
receiving the English commission named
above, visitors from the mother country
having spread his fame among their fell
lows nautically inclined. The new yacht
is to be, 90 feet over all, 100 feet from stem
to. stern post, "a feet beam, and II rect
draught. Like the Hesper, she will be a
thorough sea gong craft, roomy and com
Portable, and calculated for great speed.
A visit to Mr.. Lawlor's mould loft on
Meridian street, East Boston, near Chelsea
| Bridge, revealed some interesting data of
his remarkable career. Forty-tive years
ago, Mr.. Lawlor was graduated from the
shop of Whtmore & Holbrook. the build
ers of Mr. Winchester's famous yacht,
the Northern Light, which captured the
highest prizes in Eastern waters in those
days. On the platform of his office, yes
terday, were to be seen the lines of the
last whaling schooner that he drew for
John James & Co., of Essex Forty years
ago he designed the first schooner that
ST., and so speedy was she as a sailor that
the family have sworn by their first mod
eller ever since.
Thirteen pilot boats are to his credit
along the Atlantic coast. all fast but the
most notable are the Edwin Forrest. built
in 1865, we'll known here, and the Hesper,
which is the latest.
Mr.. Lawlor has furnished the models
for lOl steam vessels, large and small
some of them famous, as the Meteor, the
Rapidan and the San Roman. The Meteor
Mr.. Lawlor's model. She was screw
propeller. and won great notorety in the
Admiralty Court, having been seized by
the United States Government AS a
Chilian prlvateer. She was subsequent
ly returned to her owners with large re-
Enumeration for her two years detention.
though screw propeller, she once made
the passage from New York TO Singapore,
thence to Melbourne, Islav, Peru and
Callao, under sail alone, including tie-ups,
In 100 days, in 100 of which she was under
way. This Is claimed to be a remarkable
record. The Meteor is now in the CHILEAN
Navy under another name. The designs
for the Rapidan were drawn for the Gov
eminent In competition with those noted
New York naval architects, George Steers
and Webb Mr.. Lawlor's model was the
successful one, and the Government never
regretted the result, for the steamer PROV
ed to be very speedy under either sail or
steam or both. The quarantine screw
boat Nigilant, now in Boston harbor, is
the ninety-ninth steamer OF Mr.. Lawlor's
designing, two models having since been
made for Southern builders.
or the ships, barques, briggs, schooners
1.-TWO and three-masters), sloops and yachts
that were built from Mr.. Lawlor's draw
lngs he has no record but they can be
counted by hundreds, and were calculat-
ed for every purpose to which vessel can
be put, from the largest merchantmen to
we, see so many. He has just received an
order for siXty-foot yacht for Boston
gentleman. Mr.. Lawlor has wide repu-
tation among Eastern yachtsmen, and was
the official measurer at the first city re-
gatta on July 4, 1856, holding the position
for many years. He is still active, and
gives promise of many more years of
nautical usefulness